Toboggan



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. H. EMERSON.

TOBOGGAN. No. 358,601. Patented Mar. 1,1887.

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.S4/Wenko@ N. PETERS4 Phulljthogmpher. Washington, DA C4 (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3. C. H. EMERSON.

TOBOGGAN.

Patented Mar. Al, 1887,

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(No Model.)

C. H. EMERSON.

TOBOGGAN.

No. 358,601. Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

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CHARLES HARRIS EMERSON, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNSON, EMERSON & CO., OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

TOBOGGAN.

SPECIFICATION forining part of Letters Patent No.358,601, dated March 1, 1887.

Application iled December 13, 1886.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLns Hannie EMER- soN, of Yonkers, in the county of Testchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toboggans; and I do hereby declarethat the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the saine, is a clear, true, and coinpletedescription of the several features of my invention.

In that class of coasting-toboggans which embody a series of parallel bearing strips or slats and cross-bars by which the slats are maintained in position a high degree of ilexibility is desired, and heretofore the cross-bars have been directly secured to the slats, usually by means of screws, but sometimes by rivets. The twisting action of the parts promptlyloosens the screws, so that they work free fromv their seats, and either get lost or present snagging surfaces, which are obviously objectionable. Rivets are also liable to be unduly loosened, and as they cannot be readily tightened without the use of special tools, screws are generally deemed preferable.

In this connection one feature of niy invention consists in the combination, with the bearing-slats, of coupling-clips, each of which is secured to one slat or to two closely-adjacent slats, and affords a means for coupling the slats to an overlying crossbar. A clip being secured to underlying slats by means of screws, and with the cross-bar overlying the heads of said screws, the latter cannot possibly Work loose and rise from their seats, and the cross-bar requires only to be confined against longitudinal movement. If rivets be used instead of screws for securing the clips to the slats, the combination of the cross-bars, clips, and slats has special value in affording ahigh degree of flexibility with ample strength. I have also found that by variably coupling the cross-bars tothe slats a desirable union of these parts can be obtained, while securing a higher degree of flexibility than is possible when each cross-bar is attached to each slat, as heretofore practiced.

Another feature of my invention is not restricted to any special construction and arrangement of the cross-bars and slats, but relates to the hand-rail at each side of the toboggan. Heretofore these rails have been in Serial No. 221,434. (No model.)

the form of round rods; but I have now for the first time constructed said rods of such a form in cross-section that novel knuckle-guards and handles devised by me may be applied thereto and maintained in a desirable elevated position, while free to be movedlongitudinally thereon, and said knuckle-guards and handles constitute another feature of my invention, and have for their object the protection of hands, heretofore frequently skinned or more seriously injured while on a slide. I have also devised and added to toboggans cushion-holding bars or rails inside of and parallel with the usual hand-rail, and these can also be used as handles while on the slide, the outer or usual rail then serving as a fairly effective guard for the hands.

After fully describing the drawings,.illustrating in detail one of my improved toboggans, the features deemed novel will be specified in the several clauses of elaiin hereunto annexed.l

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis atop View ofa toboggan embodying allofthe features of niy invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the saine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged lateral section of thesanie with a cushion applied thereto. Fig. in several views illustrates a cross-bar and bearing-slats, with the clips for uniting theni. Fig. 5, in top, side, and end views, illustrates a metallic clip in a preferred forni. Fig. 6, in top and sectional views, illustrates a clip which confines the cross-bar longitudinally, said bar being recessed to receive a portion of the clip. Fig. 7 illustrates a clip in a modified forin, l1av ing one cross-bar lug at each side. Fig. 8 illustrates a clip in a inodilied foi-1n as applied to a cross-bar centrally slotted to receive the cross-bar lugs. Fig. 9 illustrates still another forni of clip as applied to a single slat. Fig. 10, in end, side, and sectional views, illustrates a guarded handle in its best form as applied to a hand-rail, but readily detachable therefrom. Fig. 11, in two views, illustrates a guarded handle of another forni as applied to a hand-rail. Fig. l2, in two views, illustrates a knuckle-guard applied directly to the handrail. and its spring, specially arranged to serve also as a handle.

The bearing strips or slats A may be indefinitely varied in form, dimensions, number,

Fig. I3 illustrates a cushioirliolding bar and arrangement-without in any manner affecting my invention. also be indefinitely varied in form, number, and dimensions; but instead of being directly coupled to the several slats, as heretofore, they are coupled by means of theintermediate novel clips, C, and these latter may be widely varied in form, as well as in their arrangement with relation to the slats and their cross-bars,with out departure from certain portions of my inventicn.

The clips shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are in what I deem their best form. They are preferably composed of sheet metal, having a flat back, a, and two lugs, a', on each side, which extend upward from the back, and thence inward, thus forming a socket, into which a crossbar, B, may be readily entered longitudinally. The back a is perforated, as at a?, for the rcception of screws or rivets for securing the clips to the slats A. Two slats are preferably confined side by side by means of a clip which overlies a portion of both slats and is secured to both, preferably by means of screws b, and when the latter are employed and the crossbar is in position overlying the heads of the screws, it will be seen that said cross-bar will actually prevent the screws from rising in their seats. The cross-bars, on being longitudinally entered into the several clip-sockets, then require to be conned against longitudinal movement therein, and this I accomplish in various ways. One or more small screws, c, can be relied upon, each passing through the cross-bar and into a slat; or one or more of the clips themselves may be relied upon, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein one of the lugs a is bent downward at its top into a recess formed in the cross-bar to receive it.

With a free or loose fit of the cross-bars in the sockets of the clips it will be seen that my toboggan must possess a degree of lexibility much greater than is possible with cross-bars which are directly fastened to the slats, and this advantage accrues whether screws or rivets be employed for uniting the clips to the slats.

With the slats directly coupled to each other by way of the clips, it is obvious that the crossbar need not necessarily serve as a crosswise binder for the slats, but with clips of the form shown in Fig. 9 each is screwed or riveted to one slat only, and it has a single pair of lugs, a,affording a socket for the cross-bar. Near the ends of the bar are recesses therein, into which the tops of some of the lugs can be forced, thus not only'contining the cross-bar against longitudinal movement, but also laterally confining the intermediate strips between the two outer strips, while affording substantially the same degree of iiexibility as with the arrangement previously described.

The forms of clips thus far referred to afford a bar-receiving socket, and although this is deemed a specially desirable feature many of the results desired will accrue if the clips be so constructed as to not afford such a socket* The cross-bars B may as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 8, in which the clip has a back, a, provided with one or more holes, as before described, but its lugs c stand face to face centrally on the back and extend upward through slots a in the crossbars, and are bent downward at their upper ends upon the top of the cross-bar, as clearly indicated. Vith this construction it will be seen, whether there be a clip on each slat or whether each eli p be coupled to two slats, that the slats and cross-bars are strongly maintained in theirproper relative positions,while affording a high degree of flexibility. It will also be seen in Fig. 1 that the clips are variously applied-as, forinstance, at the rear cross-bar each slat has a clip thereon of thesimplefcrm shown in Fig. 9, and that with some of the other` cross-bars three clips are employed, altcrnating with cross-'bars having but two clips. This general arrangement of cross-bars which are variabl y coupled to the slats obviously results in a desirable union of the several parts of the toboggan, while affording an extraordinary degree of flexibility, whether the novel clips be used or theusnal screw-boltsor rivets, it being obvious that in either case portions of the slats are unconfmed throughout a length greater than the distance between any two slats.

The handrail D is mounted upon or in standards supported on the cross bars; but it is immaterial to my invention how said rail may be secured in position. My hand-rail is novel in its form, in that it has an irregular sectional outline, it having at least one ilat or flattened side, as at d, and this is preferably the under side ofthe rail. This fiat side, or an equivalent special shape of rail,enables me to mount on said rail handles or guards, which can be readily moved to and fro thereon, but which are maintained in a practically vertical position, whereas if the usual round rail were employed, and the handles so confined as to be incapable of swiveling thereon, they could not be readily moved to and fro on the rail, and hence a person would be obliged to locate or move his seat with reference to the handles, instead of moving the latter with reference to his position on the toboggan.

I have illustrated several forms of handles, E, each of which is novel in that it embodies a grip-bar, c, a knuckle-guard, e', and means whereby it may be securely applied to a handrail, D.

In Fig. 10 I show a guarded handle in a specially desirable form, in that it is provided with clasps f, whereby it may be readily applied to and removed from a hand-rail. Each clasp is composed of sufficiently heavy hard wire in one length, bent to form an eye at f', by which it is rmly secured to the knuckleguard or to the end of the grip-bar. The two ends of the wire are also bent so as to form between them a loop, f2, conforming internally to the cross-section of the hand-rail D when said ends are forced together by means of the sliding loop f3, which is held in its locking pono l sition by means of a recess, h4; but on sliding said loop upward the ends spring apart, thus providing for ready attachment and detachment. When applied for use this handle cannot swivel on the hand-rail, because of the flat side d and the corresponding form of the loop f2.

In Fig. ll I show a guarded handle, which can only be applied to and removed from a handrail by longitudinally detaching the hand-rail from its posts or standards. In this handle the grip-bar c and knuckle-guard e are mainly as before described; but said bar is hollow, and a strong cord passes through it and downward, and has at its ends wire loops, through which the hand-rail passes. It is preferable that in this oase the knuckle-guard be composed of sufficiently rigid material to enable it to normally stand in a substantially vertical position on the rail; but if this latter feature be ignored the handle may be provided with round loops and used on round handrails.

In Fig. 12 I show aknuckle-guard, c', which is applied directly to the hand-rail, so that a portionof the latter serves as the grip-bar e of the handles previously described. This knuckle-guard, like the other, is generally composed of heavy textile fabric, or of leather or other suitable material, and its hand-rail loops are formed directly therein, instead of being separately applied thereto. If the knuckleguard be stiff' enough to normally maintain a substantially vertical position, and its loops be made to coliform to a hand-rail of proper form, it will maintain the desired vertical position, like the complete handles before described; but such a knuckle-guard will be found to be practically serviceable on a round hand-rail.

Another novel feature in my toboggan is clearly shown in Figs. l, 3, and 13, and it consists in the cushion-holding bars or rails F or F. The cushion G (shown in Fig. 3) lies flatly upon the cross-bars and slats within the handrails, and cushion-rails F overlie the cushion at each side and confine it in position. Each cushion bar or rail is mounted upon springstandards g, having a normal tendency to force the bar or rail downward upon the cushion, thus operating as a clamp. This springing capacity of the cushion-rail also enables it to be used as a hand-rail, as indicated in Fig. 3, in which case the hand-rail D serves a good purpose in at least partially protecting the back of the hand while on a slide.

The cushion-holding rails or bars and their spring-standards need involve little, ifany,un necessary weight. As shown in Fig. l, they contribute to the longitudinal strength of the toboggan, and hence the hand-rails D may be made even lighter than usual, thus affording extraordinary flexibility and resiliency, without any deficiency in the strength actually required; and in some cheap varieties of toboggansI shall dispense with the usual hand-rail entirely, it being obvious that the long cushion-holding-rails and their springs should in that case be made somewhat heavier and stronger. It' the longitudinal strengthening capacities of the cushion-holding rails be not desired, a short bar, F', in the form of a gripbar, as shown in Fig. 13, is used,whereby the cushion may be well secured in place and a convenient handle afforded.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a toboggan, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the bearing slats or strips, the cross-bars, and the intermediate clips secured to the slats, and by which said strips and bars are coupledtogether.

2. In a toboggan, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the bearing slats or strips, the clips secured to said slats, the cross-bars coupled to said slats by means of said clips, and provided with recesses or apertures for the reception of `portions of said clips for confining the cross-bars against undue longitudinal movement.

3. In a toboggan, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the bearing-slats, the cross-bars, and the interposed clips, which are united to the slats in pairs and couple said slats to the cross-bars.

4. In a toboggan, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the bearing-slats and a series of cross-bars which are variably coupled to said slats, whereby portions of the slats are unconfined throughout a length thereof` greater than the distances between the cross-bars.

5. The combination, with a hand-rail in a toboggan, ot' a knuckleguard, substantially as described. 4

6. The combination, with a hand-rail of a knuckle-guarded handle, substantially as described.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of a hand rail and a knuckle-guarded handle provided with clasping-loops, whereby said handle may be readily applied to and detached from said handrail.

8. In a toboggamthe combination of a handrail and a handle provided with loops which loosely embrace said rail, for enabling said handle to be freely moved longitudinally thereon, but which are also conned on said rail against undue swiveling movements.

9. In a toboggan, the cushion-holding rails or bars mounted on spring-standards arranged along the sides of the toboggan and adapted to compress and confine a cushion below said bars or rails.

10. In a toboggan,the cushion-holding bars or rails at each side thereof,and each mounted uponaseries of spring-standards,substantially as described.

CHARLES HARRIS EMERSON.

Witnesses:

Guo. W. WALns, A. R. LEMON.

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